Los Angeles

3 Killed, 2 Critically Injured in Car Crashes After Street Racing in Commerce

Dozens of vehicles were at the scene of the street race, deputies said.

Family members related to three spectators killed during a street race in the City of Commerce Saturday were speaking out about the crash, and a woman who works in the area shared video of what she said was another street race happening the day before.

The crash was reported around 1 a.m. at the intersection of South Malt Avenue and Telegraph Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The fatal crash involved three vehicles.

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The coroner identified the dead as Oscar Sanchez, 15, of South Gate, Guillerno Gutierrez, 29, of Los Angeles and Oscar Gutierrez Sabino, 27, of Los Angeles.

Family members said the three killed were all related. 

Mariella Elizardo works across the street from the accident site.

"The cops came and they all just scattered," Elizardo said of the video she took Friday night, hours before the crash. 

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Angie Aguillar said a co-worker on the graveyard shift ran to try and help the victims, but it was too late.

"He heard the races he was on his break and everything happened before his eyes," Aguillar said.

Two other people were transported to a hospital in critical condition, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Deputies said dozens of vehicles were at the scene of the race, possibly more than 100 vehicles.

Authorities also said that a car involved in the street race hit another car that was doing "donuts."

The intersection where the crash occurred is a popular spot where street racers gather, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

People who work in the area also said street racing has been a problem here - night and day - for years.

"We just hear the cars gunning their engines and then they take off," said Richard Gonzalez, who works at Hernandez Carpet.

Gonzalez said the sheriff's department patrols the area, but the drivers take off.

"[They patrol for] maybe about five or ten minutes. They come back and do it again," Gonzalez said.

Several people who came to visit the memorial at the crash site suggested speed bumps and a traffic light -- something to deter racers.

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